Button-sewing machine



G. W. NELSON.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV: 2, 1918.

G. W. NELSON. BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

l APPLICATION FILED NOV: 2, 1918. 1,370,473.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No &.

G. W. NELSON. BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov.2, I9I8.

NSW

HIS ATTORNEY UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. NELSON, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. NELSON, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have linvented certain new and useful Improvements in Button- Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates`to button sewing machines and has special reference to machines of such type in which a chain-stitch sewing mechanism is employed.

The invention comprises improved means for operating a work-holder, such for example, as a button-clamp, in two different paths, for positioning the loop below the work so that the needle in its descent will pass through it properly, and for performing various other operations all of which will be hereinafter described in detail and claimed and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a front side elevation of a chainstitch button sewing machine embodying the invention, with the frame thereof in substantially central, vertical, longitudinal section, and showing the parts in the positions they occupy upon the automatic stopping of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section and plan of the same, the section being taken substantially in the meeting plane of the sections of the main frame, but following the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a substantially central, vertical, transverse section of the lower portion of the machine, the section being taken in line 3 3, Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; 4

Fig. 4 is a similar view, the section being taken in line 4 4, Fig. 2, and looking in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail illustrating in plan the construction and mode of operation of the loop positioner, looper, etc.

Like reference characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Many of the parts of the machine here shown are or may be similar to those of other button sewing machines heretofore Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

' Original application led March 2, 1912, Serial No. 681,208. Divided and thisy application led November Serial No. 260,769.

used. In the machine shown the main frame comprises upper and lower portions, 2 and 3, suitably connected and containing suitable chambers, bearings and other openings for the reception of various parts of the operating mechanism. The main driven member, for example, is illustrated as a fast pulley, 1l, associated with a loose pulley, 5, these two pulleys being, as is usual, in the form of hand-wheels to permit them to be readily manipulated by the operator. The fast pulley 4 is shown as secured to a main driven shaft, 6, extending substantially from end to end of the lower section 3 of the casing, and carrying at its extreme forward end a looper, such as 7, of the wellknown chain-stitch type. Associated with the fast and loose pulleys i and 5 is suitable means for starting and stopping the operation of the machine, which means forms the subject-matter of Patent No. 1,282,107, granted to me October 22, 1918. 8 and 9 designate respectively the usual needle and needle bar, the latter of which is or may be operated in a well-known manner from the main shaft 6 by suitable connections, as indicated at 10 and 1l.

The work-holder or button-clamp may be any suitable for the purpose. In the 'construction shown, a button-clamp H is illustrated which has three button-holding jaws, two of which are side jaws, 66-66, and the third of which is an end jaw, 67. These jaws are normally held in the position shown, for example, in Fig. 2, a spring being illustrated at 68 for normally holding the jaws together and suitable operating connections, such as a rocking frame 69, and a slide 70 operated thereby, beinglemployed for spreading the jaws 66 and withdrawing the jaw 67. This is accomplished in the construction shown by the oscillation of the rocking frame 69 about' its pivot on the work-holder, said rocking frame having a rearwardly extending lever arm, 71, co-acting with a fixed member or resistance actuator, 72, on the frame ofthe machine, the parts being so constructed and combined that on the lifting of the work-holder by the connecting chain 34, the frame 69 will turn about its pivot and will draw back the slide 70, which latter has a pair of cam grooves, 73, for co-acting with pins on the jaws 66 to spread the latter when the slide is so operated.

The button-holder and the parts for operating the same which have just been described, are mounted to oscillate up and down about a pivot 20 on the button or work holder slide. This silde, designated generally by 74, is intended to have movements both backward and forward and sidewise for the purpose of properly positioning the button b beneath the needle ,8. t is pivoted at 75 (see Fig. 1) in the fixed frame work or bed plate of the machine for turning movement and it is also slotted longitudinally for lengthwise movement relative to said pivot pin or screw 75. The rear end of this main slide for the work-holder is operatively connected through a slide 74 and link 7 6, to an angle lever, 77, one arm of which latter is slotted for adjustment of the movement of the link 76, while the other arm is operatively connected with a transverse slide, 78, movable inV suitable transverse guide-ways, the connection of the arm with said slide being effected by means of a pivoted block 7 8 on the under side of the slide engaging the arm within an elongated slot therein, as shown in Fig. 2. A second and similar slide is shown at 79 as movable in corresponding guide-ways and as operatively connected to the rear end of the workholder slide by means of a pivoted block 7 9 on its under side engaging the work-holder slide within an elongated slot therein. The ltwo transverse slides 78 and 79 are intended to be reciprocated by suitable connections 'from the main shaft 6. The connections shown comprise a pair of angle levers, 80 and 81, operatively connected at their upper ends respectively to the transverse slides 78 and 79 and suitably pivotefl for movement about their axis, which is in a rock shaft 82 supported in the lower portion of the frame of the machine. These two angle levers coperate respectively with a pair of sleeves or collars, such as 83 and 84, mounted on a fixed shaft, 85,` and slidable on said shaft and having peripheral cam surfaces coperative with the respective levers 80 and 81 as the case may be. One of these collars has a pair of cams 86 and 86 and the other a pair of cams 87 and 87. Each collar has in fixed relation therewith a spur-gear of relatively large diameter in constant driving engagement with a long spur-pinion carried by the main shaft 6. These large spur-gears are indicated at88 and 89 and the spur-pinions with which they co-act, at 90 and 91. Each collar with the parts carried thereby is movable as a whole lengthwise of the fixed shaft 85 and to a certain extent independently of the other, that is to say, each collar, etc., is movable along said fixedshaft in its proper timing but in all positions on the shaft said collar with its parts is rotated constantly through its gear by the shaft 6. For the purpose: of controlling the shifting movements of these collars, etc., a pair of levers, 92 and 93, will be employed, each lever having at its lower end a pin entering a circumferential guidegroove in one portion of the collar. At their upper ends said levers are joined by connecting rods, such as 94 and95, to the upper ends of a pair of controlling levers designated generally by 96 and 97, suitably pivoted about a transverse axle, such as 98. At

their`^`rear ends the levers 96 and 97, which are of angular type, carry anti-friction rolls which ride upon the peripheries of a pair of cams, such as 99 and 100, secured to a cross shaft 59 which is journaled in suitable bearings in the lower frame member 3 and driven from the main shaft 6 by suitable gearing, such as the worm gearing 60 and 61, by meansof which a relatively slow rotary movement is imparted to said cross shaft. These two cams 99 and 100 have their cam surfaces arranged differentially as will be seen by referring particularlyvto Fig. 1. It will also be noticed that each of the connecting rods 94 and 95 between the pairs of levers just referred to has a yielding or spring connection with suitable means for regulating the tension, the springs of these connections being designated respectively by 101 and 102. Each of the levers 96 and 97 is also normally held in contact with its cam as by means of a suitable spring, these springs being shown at 103 and 104.

By means of the connections just described movement is transmitted from the cross shaft 59 through the two cams 99 and 100 to the levers 96 and 97 and the connecting rods 94 and 95, and the levers 92 and 93 to the collars on the shaft 85, which collars are by the action of said connections shifted in proper timing, but differentially, to permit the levers 480 and 81 to swing about their pivots from the tops to the bottoms of their respective cam faces on said collars and vice versa, for the purpose of shifting the slides 78 and 79 crosswise of the machine, the slide 7 8, through the angle lever 77, and connecting rodI 76, serving to shift the workholder slide back and forth lengthwise of the machine, and the Slide 79 serving directly to oscillate the work-holder slide back and` forth crosswise of the machine, in the proper manner for presenting one or another of the 'four holes in the button in position for the passage of the needle.

At the beginning of the making of a group Ilof stitches the work-holder slide is shifted back and forth lengthwise of the machine by the crosswise movements of the slide 78, and is also oscillated about its pivot by the reciprocation of the slide 79 in a direction opposite to that of the slide 78, for the making of stitches connecting two diagonally opposite holes. On the completion of the set of stitches connecting this pair of holes the collar 84 is shifted on its shaft to transfer the lever 81 from the cam 87 to the cam 87. The cam 87 serves to bring about a reciprocation of the slide 79 opposite to its former movement and in harmony with the direction of movement of the slide 78 instead of in opposition to it. This causes the button to be presented in such a manner as to permit the making of stitches connecting the other pair of diagonally opposite holes. On the completion of this second set of diagonally opposite stitches both collars are shifted on their shafts, the collar 84 to transfer the lever 81 back to the cam 87 for the starting of the sewing on of a new button and the collar 83 to the idle position or round part of the shaft to permit the making of a stitch or stitches in one hole of the buttonl with the work-holder slide stationary, this stitching serving to form the usual knot in the thread, after which the machine is automatically stopped.

In connection with the devices just described, suitable means are preferably employed for normally holding the levers 80 and 81 in contact with the coperating portions of the sliding elements or collars with which they are in engagement. The means here shown as provided for this purpose comprise a pair of springs, 105 and 10G, connecting at one end with said levers 80 and 81, and at their opposite or lower end connecting with a rod, 107, which may be loosely held against the end walls of undercut vertical grooves in the frame work near the base of the machine.

Suitable means will also be provided for normally holding the button-'clamp or workholder H down in its operative position in opposition to the pull of the work-holderlifting means, which in this case includes the chain 34. The means here shown for keeping the work-holder in its operative position comprises a vert`ical post or fixed rod secured to the upper side` of Vthe buttonclamp near the center thereof and working at its upper end in an opening in the underside of the overhanging arm of the machine. This post or fixed rod is indicated at 108. Around it is shown a coiled spring, 109, by means of which the button-clamp is normallyheld down. Said spring works between the under side of the overhanging head and a stop 110 on the rod 108 which stop may be adjustable as shown.

In a machineof this class, that is, a single thread-sewing machine in which there is a relative movement between the wor and the looper tending to draw the loop engaged by the looper in a lateral direction f/r/om its normal and proper position for coperation with the needle and looper, which movementV ing one which latter will then be cast off the looper and around the new or second loop. A device suitable for this purpose is shown in Fig. 1, associated with the parts with which it coperates and with which its movements are timed, and is illustrated more in detail in Fig. 5. This thread-loop positioner is preferably mounted to move lengthwise of the machine, that is to say, substantially in the direction of the longitudinal aXis of the looper shaft 6, and it is also shown as having a transverse movement with respect to this looper shaft aXis. Here the positioner is preferably of the type indicated at 111, the extreme forward end thereof being reduced and curved as illustrated clearly in Fig. 5 to form a finger, 112, which, when projected into loop-engaging position, will hold the loop in position for the needle to pass through it properly, as indicated in said views. The positioner will, of course,.. be withdrawn at the proper moment from such position after the enchaining of the loops has been effected. The positioner here shown is supported on, and disposed lengthwise of, a carrier, such as 113, mounted for operation in a space between the underside of the bedplate of the machine and the upper side of the forward bearing for the looper-shaft. Said carrier is here illustrated as pivoted at 114 on top of the block or support in which said forward bearing is formed and has an oscillating movement about said pivot. This oscillation is shown as controlled by an eccentric, 115, carried by the shaft 6 and in engagement with downward extensions 116 of the carrier 113. The eccentric just ills the space between the eX- Jadensons 116 and serves to oscillate the carrier 113 positively back and forth at each rotation of the shaft 6. The longitudinal movement of the positioner 111 is preferably obtained by means of a cam with which a. pin, 117, at the underside of the positioner co-acts. Here the shaft 6 has at its forward end immediately in the rear of the looper 7, an enlargement or attachment of large diameter, in which is cut a circumferential cam groove, 118, the cam portion of which serves to shift the positioner 111 back and forth at the proper points in the rotation of t-he shaft 6, while'the portions of the groove 118 at a right angle to the aXis of the shaft serve to hold said positioner in its operative position a sufficient length of' become Patent No. 1,288,652, granted December 24, 1918.

What lI claim is 1. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shiftable work-holder, a rotary driven member, a collar movable lengthwise of said member and having a peripheral cam face, means connecting said driven member and collar for rotating the latter, means operated from said driven member for shifting said collar at predetermined times, and a device controlled by said cam face for imparting a reciprocating movement to the work-holder.

2. In,a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shiftable work-holder, a rotary reciprocating collar having a peripheral cam face, means for rotating said collar in timingwith the stitch-forming mechanism and for shifting it back and forth at predetermined times, and a device controlled by said cam face for imparting a reciprocating movement to the work-holder.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shiftable work-holder, a rotary reciprocatory collar having peripheral circular and cam faces aty different points in its length, means for rotating said collar in timing with the stitch-forming mechanism and for shifting it back and forth at predetermined times, and a work-holder shifting device controlled by said circular and cam faces.

4;. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shiftable work-holder, a rotary driven member, a slidable collar rotatable with said driven member and having peripheral circular and cam faces, means for shifting said collar back and forth at predetermined times, and a work-holder-shifting device controlled by Y said circular and cam faces.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shiftable work-holder, a rotary driven member, a slidable collar rotatable with said driven member and having peripheral circular and cam faces, means operated from said driven memberl for shifting said collar back and forth at predetermined times, and a workholder-shifting device controlled by said` circular and cam faces.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-formingmechanism, of a shiftable work-holder movable in two different collars in timing with the stitch-forming mechanism and for shifting each collar back and forth at predetermined times, and a pair of work-holder-shifting devices controlled respectively by said cam faces for moving said Work-holder in different paths transverse to each other.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shiftable work-holder movable in two different paths transverse to each other, a pair of rol tary reciprocating collars each having a peripheral cam face, means for rotating said collars in timing with the stitch-forming mechanism and for shifting each collar back and forth in different timing, and workholder-shifting means controlled by said cam faces.

9. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shiftable work-holder movable in two different paths transverse to each other, a pair of ro- `tary reciprocatory collars each having differential peripheral controlling faces at different points in its length, means for rotating said collars in timing with the stitchforming mechanism and for shifting each collar back and forth at predetermined times, and work-holder-shifting means controlled by said faces.

10. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shi-ftable work-holder movable in two different paths transverse to each other, a pair of rotary reciprocatory collars each having differential peripheral controlling faces at different points in its length, meansv for rotating said collars in 'timing with the stltchl forming mechanism and for shifting each collar back and forth at predetermined times, and a pair of work-holder-shifting devices one controlled by the differential faces of one collar and the other by the differential faces of the other collar and operative for moving said, work-holder in paths transverse to each other.

11. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shift- 'able work-holder movable in two different paths transverse to each other, a pair of rotary reciprocatory collars each having differential peripheral controlling faces at different points in its length, means for rotating said collars in timing with the stitchforming -mechanism and for shifting each collar bac-k and forth in different timing, and a pair of work-holder-shifting'devices one controlled by the differential faces lof one collar and the other by the differential faces of the other collar and operative for moving said work-holder at different times in paths transverse to each other.

12. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shiftable work-holder movable in two different paths transverse to each other, a rotary driven member, a pair of slidable collars each having differential peripheral controlling faces at different points in its length and each rotatable with said driven member, means for shifting said collars back and forth in different timing, and work-holdershifting means controlled by said faces.

13. In a sewing machine, the comb-ination with stitch-forming mechanism, of a shiftable work-holder movable in two different paths transverse to each other, a rotary driven member, a pair of slidable collars each having differential peripheral controlling faces at di'erent points in its length and each rotatable with said driven member, means operated from said driven member for shifting said collars back and forth in different timing, and work-holder shifting means controlled by said faces.

14. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism inlcuding a looper-shaft and looper, of a shiftable workholder, a slidable collar rotatable with said looper-shaft and having a peripheral cam face, a slow-speed cross shaft geared to and driven from said looper shaft, means controlled by said cross shaft for shifting said collar back and forth at different times, and a work-holder-shifting device controlled by said cam face.

15. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a looper-shaft and looper, of a shiftable workholder movable in two different paths transverse to each other, a pair of slidable collars rotatable with said looper-shaft and each having a peripheral cam face, a slow-speed cross shaft geared to and driven from said looper-shaft, means controlled by said cross shaft for shifting said collars back and forth in different timln and work-holder-shifting means control ed by said cam faces and looper, means for shifting said work-holder,

a loop positioner adjacent to said looper and mounted to slide lengthwise of said loopershaft and to move bodily in an arc transverse to the axis of said shaft for engaging the thread loop and positioning it relatively to the needle and looper, and means operated by said looper-shaft for moving said looppositioner in said paths.

17. In a single-thread sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a needle, a' looper and a looper-shaft, of a shiftable work-holder operative to deflect the thread loop from position for proper coperation with the needle and looper, means for shifting said workholder, a loop-positioner adjacent to said looper and mounted to slide lengthwise of said looper-shaft and to move bodily in an arc transverse to the axis of said shaft for engaging the thread loop and positioning it relatively to the needle and looper, and Separate connections from said looper-shaft for shifting said loop-positioner lengthwise of said shaft and for oscillating said loop-positioner.

18. In a single-thread sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism including a'needle, a looper and a loopershaft, of ashiftable work-holder operative to deflect the thread loop from position for proper coperation with the needle and looper, means for shifting said work-holder, a pivoted carrier disposed lengthwise of the looper-shaft, a loop-positioner mounted to slide lengthwise of said carrier, and separate means operated bysaid looper-shaft for oscillating said carrier and for simultaneously reciprocating said loop-positioner on said carrier for causing it to engage the thread loop and position the same relatively to the needle and loo er.

Signed at (/leveland, in the county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, this 16th day of October, A. D. 1918.

GEORGE w. NELSON.

Witnesses L. 4LU'ri-II, W. B. HYsLoP. 

